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BRAVE VOICES: One Family’s Journey through Dyslexia, Diagnosis and Determination

By Deborah Hewes, Director of Communications, Engagement & Fundraising

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In a bustling café tucked into the heart of Singapore, I sat down with Tracy and her two sons, Killian (23) and Keegan (22), DAS alumni whose stories are anything but ordinary. Over the clatter of coffee cups and the occasional burst of laughter, a rich and moving family narrative unfolded. This is not just a story of dyslexia. It is a story of discovery, grit, neurodiversity, and one mother’s unflinching determination to champion her children’s needs in a system that too often fails to see their potential.

Tracy is, in every sense, a Dyslexia Mum Warrior. With three sons, each navigating his own unique learning journey, she made the brave decision early on not to ignore the signs, not to sweep her concerns under the rug, and most importantly, not to be silenced. When assessments came back inconclusive, she sought second opinions. When schools didn’t understand, she learned to speak their language. And when her boys faltered, she taught them to stand tall.

“All I wanted was direction,” she said. “The diagnosis wasn’t a label; it was a roadmap. I needed to know how to help them, how to fight the system, how to guide their futures.”

Her bravery paid off. Today, her sons have not only overcome the barriers that dyslexia, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) can pose, they’ve turned those differences into fuel. One son, Killian, nearly dropped out of his diploma. But demonstrating perseverance, is currently completing his Honours degree in Psychology and conducting research into parenting, emotional exhaustion, and compassion. The other, Keegan, already armed with a literature degree and studying on another in biological sciences, he’s setting his sights on a PhD. Both speak candidly about their diagnoses and have developed powerful strategies to manage their learning differences.

Together, they are living proof that early intervention, loving persistence, and fearless self-advocacy can transform the trajectory of a life.

But this family’s story isn’t just about success, it’s about speaking up. As Keegan shared,

 “When parents are brave about their children’s challenges, those children learn to be brave about them too.”

 Too many students suffer in silence because stigma holds their families back from seeking support. Tracy’s message to those parents is clear: Don’t be afraid to name the need. Don’t be afraid to seek answers. Because once you know what you’re facing, you can face it head-on, and win.

This blog is the first in a five-part series sharing their journey. In the weeks to come, we’ll delve deeper into each voice: Tracy’s passionate advocacy, Killian’s remarkable academic transformation from nearly dropping out to pursuing his honours degree in Psychology and Keegan’s double degree pursuit and aim to research at the highest level. These stories matter because they echo what so many families feel but rarely say out loud: that learning differently doesn’t mean less, it often means more.

More perseverance.  More creativity. More fight.

And above all, more reason to speak out loud and proud.

Meet Keegan, Tracey and Killian

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